Musaylama al-Kadhdhab: Difference between revisions

'''Musaylama b. Thumāma al-Ḥanafī al-Wā'ilī''' (Arabic: {{ia|مُسَیْلَمَة بن ثُمامَة الحَنَفی الوائِلی}}), known as “Musaylama al-Kadhdhāb” (Arabic: {{ia|مُسَیْلَمَة الکَذّاب}}, literally: Musaylama the Liar, killed in 12/633), was a person who claimed [[prophethood]] in 10/631. He was killed in the [[Battle of Yamama]] under the commandership of [[Khalid b. Walid]] in 12/633).

Musaylama was from the Banu Hanifa Tribe in [[al-Yamama]]. His name was Musaylama b. Thumama b. Kabir b. Habib al-Hanafi al-Wa'ili, and his [[kunya]] was Abu Thumama. His title was “Rahman”, and in the period of [[Jahiliyya]] (or Ignorance), he was known as Rahman al-Yamama. In [[Sanat al-Wufud]] (or Year of Delegates in 9/630), he and senior figures of his tribe went from al-Yamama to [[Medina]]. There are two accounts of their meeting with [[the Prophet (s)]]:

* Musaylama and his companions went to the Prophet (s). He said: “if Muhammad appoints me as his successor, I will follow him”. The Prophet (s) said, while holding a branch of a palm tree in his hand, “if you ask me to give you what I am holding in my hand, I will not give it to you. Do not be hostile to what God has planned for you, and if you turn away, God will cut off your generation”.

* In Medina, Musaylama was a watchman of provisions and equipment of his fellows and so he did not go to the Propeht (s). When they converted to Islam, they told the Prophet (s) that they had appointed one of their fellows as a watchman for their stuff. The Prophet (s) ordered that Musaylama be given whatever is given to the delegates.  

Upon his return, Musaylama claimed [[prophethood]], and the Prophet Muhammad (s) called him “Musaylama al-Kadhdhab” (Musaylama the Liar). On other accounts, his name was Harun or Maslama. Some people believe that his name was Maslama, but after his claim of prophethood, Muslims humiliated him by using the diminutive (musaghghar) form of his name, Musaylama (literally: little Maslama).

In a letter he wrote to [[the Prophet (s)]] in 11/632, Musaylama claim that he shared prophethood with Muhammad (s). In response, the Prophet (s) called him “Musaylama al-Kadhdhab” and sent Habib b. Zayd b. 'Asim to him, but Habib was martyred by Musaylama, because he did not confirm his prophethood. After the demise of the Prophet (s), the circumstances were right for Musaylama. He gathered some people around him, and following the [[Qur'an]], he conjured up rhythmic prose, and presented it to his followers. Musaylama married Sijah, the daughter of Harith al-Tamimi who had also claimed prophethood. He made her [[mahr]] the removal of the obligation of saying morning and [[Isha']] prayers for their followers.

He permitted wine and adultery for his followers and removed the obligation of the [[prayer]] from his followers, although he confirmed the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad (s).

On some accounts, Musaylama tried to repeat some [[miracle]]s of the Prophet (s), but with reverse outcomes. He threw his saliva in a water well, but the well dried, instead of springing. A child was taken to him so that he prays for him, but when he patted his head, the child became bald. When the remnant of the water with which he practiced [[wudu]] was thrown in a garden, no plant grew there anymore, and when he patted a person’s eye, the person went blind.

In 12/633, [[Abu Bakr]] sent an army to al-Yamama under the commandership of Khalid b. Walid. Khalid fought Musaylama and his companions in 'Aqraba'. Musaylama was killed in [[Rabi' al-Thani]] 12 (June 633). Wahshi b. Harb (the killer of [[Hamza]]), 'Abd Allah b. Zayd b. 'Asim, and Abu Dujjana had a role in his murder. On other accounts, Wahshi b. Harb or 'Abd Allah b. Zayd b. 'Asim are said to have individually killed Musaylama.